Mode switching

ABSTRACT

Based on one or more characteristics of a received translation input, a computing device is switched between two or more states. The translation input may be a touch input, for example a drag operation. The states may relate to locked and unlocked states, idle screens, or other suitable examples.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 13/594,238, filed Aug. 24, 2012, which has nowissued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,182,906 dated Nov. 10, 2015, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/874,206, filed Sep. 1,2010, which has now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,854,318 dated Oct. 7,2014, all of the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to a method, apparatus, andcomputer program product for switching a device between states basedupon the characteristics of a received translation input.

BACKGROUND

Some electronic devices are switchable between different operatingstates, for example a locked state in which certain functions aredisabled, and an unlocked state in which those functions are enabled.Such switching may controlled by a user interface.

SUMMARY

According to a first example, there is provided a method comprising:receiving a translation input; determining that at least onecharacteristic of the translation input meets at least one predefinedcriterion; and in response to the determination, switching a computingdevice from a locked state into an unlocked state.

According to a second example, there is provided apparatus comprising: aprocessor; and memory including computer program code, the memory andthe computer program code configured to, working with the processor,cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receive atranslation input; determine that at least one characteristic of thetranslation input meets at least one predefined criterion; and switch acomputing device from a locked state into an unlocked state in responseto the determination.

According to a third example, there is provided a computer programproduct comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer programcode embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program codecomprising: code for receiving a translation input; code for determiningthat at least one characteristic of the translation input meets at leastone predefined criterion; and code for switching a computing device froma locked state into an unlocked state in response to the determination.

According to a fourth example, there is provided apparatus comprising:means for receiving a translation input; means for determining that atleast one characteristic of the translation input meets at least onepredefined criterion; and means for, in response to the determination,switching a computing device from a locked state into an unlocked state.

According to a fifth example, there is provided a method comprising:receiving a translation input; determining whether at least onecharacteristic of the translation input meets a first set of one or morecriteria; and if the at least one characteristic is determined to meetthe first set of criteria, switching a computing device from a firststate into a second state, wherein: in said first state an applicationis in focus and a first display relating to the application isdisplayed, and in said second state the application is not in focus.

According to a sixth example, there is provided apparatus comprising: aprocessor; and memory including computer program code, the memory andthe computer program code configured to, working with the processor,cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving atranslation input; determine whether at least one characteristic of thetranslation input meets a first set of one or more criteria; and if theat least one characteristic is determined to meet the first set ofcriteria, switch a computing device from a first state into a secondstate, wherein: in said first state an application is in focus and afirst display relating to the application is displayed, and in saidsecond state the application is not in focus.

According to a seventh example, there is provided a computer programproduct comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer programcode embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program codecomprising: code for receiving a translation input; code for determiningwhether at least one characteristic of the translation input meets afirst set of one or more criteria; and code for switching a computingdevice from a first state into a second state if the at least onecharacteristic is determined to meet the first set of criteria, wherein:in said first state an application is in focus and a first displayrelating to the application is displayed, and in said second state theapplication is not in focus.

According to an eighth example, there is provided apparatus comprising:means for receiving a translation input; means for determining whetherat least one characteristic of the translation input meets a first setof one or more criteria; and means for, if the at least onecharacteristic is determined to meet the first set of criteria,switching a computing device from a first state into a second state,wherein: in said first state an application is in focus and a firstdisplay relating to the application is displayed, in said second statethe application is not in focus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the presentinvention, reference is now made to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an apparatus according to an example of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a device according to an example of theinvention;

FIG. 3a-c is an illustration of a device according to an example of theinvention;

FIG. 4a-d is an illustration of a device according to further example ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a device according to an example of theinvention;

FIG. 6a-c is an illustration of a device according to an example of theinvention;

FIG. 7a-c is an illustration of a device according to three furtherexamples of the invention;

FIG. 8a-d is an illustration of a device according to an example of theinvention;

FIG. 9a-c is an illustration of a device according to an example of theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to an example ofthe invention; and

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to anotherexample of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiment of the present invention and their potentialadvantages are understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 11 of thedrawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 100 according to an example embodimentof the invention. The apparatus 100 may comprise at least one antenna105 that may be communicatively coupled to a transmitter and/or receivercomponent 110. The apparatus 100 may also comprise a volatile memory115, such as volatile Random Access Memory (RAM) that may include acache area for the temporary storage of data. The apparatus 100 may alsocomprise other memory, for example, non-volatile memory 120, which maybe embedded and/or be removable. The non-volatile memory 120 maycomprise an EEPROM, flash memory, or the like. The memories may storeany of a number of pieces of information, and data—for example anoperating system for controlling the device, application programs thatcan be run on the operating system, and user and/or system data. Theapparatus may comprise a processor 125 that can use the storedinformation and data to implement one or more functions of the apparatus100, such as the functions described hereinafter. In some exampleembodiments, the processor 125 and at least one of volatile 115 ornon-volatile 120 memory may be present in the form of an ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array(FPGA), or any other application-specific component.

The apparatus 100 may comprise one or more User Identity Modules (UIMs)130. Each UIM 130 may comprise a memory device having a built-inprocessor. Each UIM 130 may comprise, for example, a subscriber identitymodule, a universal integrated circuit card, a universal subscriberidentity module, a removable user identity module, and/or the like. EachUIM 130 may store information elements related to a subscriber, anoperator, a user account, and/or the like. For example, a UIM 130 maystore subscriber information, message information, contact information,security information, program information, and/or the like.

The apparatus 100 may comprise a number of user interface components.For example, a microphone 135 and an audio output device such as aspeaker 140. The apparatus 100 may comprise one or more hardwarecontrols, for example a plurality of keys laid out in a keypad 145. Sucha keypad 145 may comprise numeric (for example, 0-9) keys, symbol keys(for example, #, *), alphabetic keys, and/or the like for operating theapparatus 100. For example, the keypad 145 may comprise a conventionalQWERTY (or local equivalent) keypad arrangement. The keypad may insteadcomprise a different layout, such as E.161 standard mapping recommendedby the Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). The keypad 145may also comprise one or more soft keys with associated functions thatmay change depending on the input of the device. In addition, oralternatively, the apparatus 100 may comprise an interface device suchas a joystick, trackball, or other user input component.

The apparatus 100 may comprise one or more display devices such as ascreen 150. The screen 150 may be a touchscreen, in which case it may beconfigured to receive input from a single point of contact, multiplepoints of contact, and/or the like. In such an example embodiment, thetouchscreen may determine input based on position, motion, speed,contact area, and/or the like. Suitable touchscreens may involve thosethat employ resistive, capacitive, infrared, strain gauge, surface wave,optical imaging, dispersive signal technology, acoustic pulserecognition or other techniques, and to then provide signals indicativeof the location and other parameters associated with the touch. A“touch” input may comprise any input that is detected by a touchscreenincluding touch events that involve actual physical contact and touchevents that do not involve physical contact but that are otherwisedetected by the touchscreen, such as a result of the proximity of theselection object to the touchscreen. The touchscreen may be controlledby the processor 125 to implement an on-screen keyboard.

The touchscreen and/or other user interface components of the apparatus100 may be used to detect a translation input. A translation input is auser input having start and end locations with a displacement inputbetween the two, define a translation. For example, a touch-drag betweentwo points on a touchscreen or other touch-sensitive surface is atranslation input, as would be a clik-drag using a mouse or otherpointing and selection device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a device 200 that is an example of the apparatus 100of FIG. 1. The device has a touch screen 210 and hardware buttons 220,although different hardware features may be present. For example,instead of a touchscreen 210 the device 200 may have a non-touch displayupon which a cursor can be presented, the cursor being movable by theuser according to inputs received from the hardware buttons 220, atrackball, a mouse, or any other suitable user interface component.

Device 200 may be switchable between locked and unlocked states. In theunlocked states one or more user inputs are registered by user inputcomponents of the device 200 (e.g. the touchscreen 210 and the buttons220) and in response to these user inputs the device performs functionsthat are associated with the inputs. Such actions might be, for example,launching a particular application, displaying a particular menu, orperforming other UI navigation or data entry functions.

In the locked mode, the device is configured not to perform at leastsome of these functions in response to user inputs that would triggerthem were the device in the unlocked mode. This may be achieved, forexample, by registering user inputs at the user input components, butblocking the device from performing the associated functions.Alternatively, the user input components may be blocked from registeringthe user inputs when the device is in the locked mode—for example bydeactivating the user input components. In some example embodiments acombination of approaches may be used—for example, deactivating onlysome user input components but blocking the performance of the functionsassociated with inputs registered by at least some the remaining userinput components. In some example embodiments, extra functions areprovided while the device is in the unlocked state, and these may bemapped to new user inputs or user inputs for which the unlocked-statefunctions have been blocked. For example, an extra function may beprovided to switch the device 200 to the unlocked state in response tothe registration of a particular user input whilst the device is in thelocked state.

FIGS. 3a-3c illustrate an example of a method of switching the device200 of FIG. 2 from a locked state into an unlocked state. FIG. 3aillustrates an example of the device 200 in its locked state. The deviceis displaying an icon 300 that represents the locked state of thedevice. The icon 300 in the example is an image of a lock, but it may bea different image, text, or any other displayable representation. Theicon 300 is displayed within a first locus 310 of the display 210, thefirst locus in this case corresponding to the position and size of theicon 200, although it could potentially be any area of the display 210.

In some examples, the first locus 310 may be visually or otherwisedistinguished from all or part of the rest of the display 210—in thisexample it is distinguished by the presentation of the icon 300. Otherways to distinguish the first locus 310 would be to draw it in adifferentiating colour, or representing the extent of the first locus310 using haptic feedback. The first locus may be so distinguishedwhenever the device 200 is in the locked state, or only when certainother criteria are also met—for example when a translation input isdetected starting within the first locus 310.

FIG. 3a also illustrates a second locus 320. In the illustrated example,the second locus 330 is remote from the first locus 310, but the twoloci may be contiguous. Similarly, there is illustrated a remaining area330 that consists of the display area that forms neither part of thefirst locus 310 nor the second locus 320—but in other examples the firstand second loci 310 320 together cover the whole display area. Either orboth of the first and second loci 310 320 may represent point locations(e.g. a single pixel of the display 210) or two-dimensional (or othermulti-dimensional) areas on the display 210. In some examples, thesecond locus 320 may correspond to a periphery of the display 210, sothat a translation input is said to end at the second locus 320 when itleaves the display 210 by crossing its outer edge or coming within apredetermined range of its outer edge. The use of the periphery andother criteria in this manner may, in some embodiments, help the userinterface to distinguish between translation inputs that are intended tochange the state of the device, and translation inputs that merelycorrespond to e.g. panning actions within an application.

In FIG. 3b the user has dragged the icon 300 out of the first locus 310and into the second locus 320. The icon 300 may be dragged using atouch-drag input where a finger or other stylus is contacted with thedisplay 210, brought within a threshold distance of it, or otherwiseacts upon the display 210 to commence the drag input, before beingtranslated across the display 210. The drag may end when stylus ceasesto act upon the display. Alternatively, a cursor may be controlled by amouse, trackball, trackpad, joystick, directional buttons, or othercontrolling means in order, and positioned over the icon 300 or at apredetermined position relative to the icon 300 and moved to perform thetranslation. In the latter case the drag could be initiated andterminated by pressing and releasing a selection button, or usinganother suitable user interface component. Other methods of controllinga translation input relative to the icon may be used, for example dragsthat are controlled using voice instructions, eye-tracking, and thelike. In some examples, the translation input must be actively ended inthe second locus 320 by the user (e.g. by the user lifting his finger inthe case of a touchscreen drag), but in other examples it is enough thatthe translation enters or comes within a predetermined range of thesecond locus 320.

In FIG. 3c the user has completed the drag of the icon 300 to a positionwithin the second locus 210 and has terminated the drag, for example (inthe case of a touch screen) by lifting his finger from the display 210.The device determines that the user has dragged the icon 300 out of thefirst locus 310 and into the second locus 320 and in response to thisdetermination the device is switched from its locked state to anunlocked state.

FIG. 3a-3c illustrate an example embodiment where the unlocking of thedevice 200 is dependent upon dragging an icon 300 between a first locus310 and a second locus 320. However, it is not essential that an icon orother object is actually dragged. Instead, in some examples it is enoughthat a translation input (e.g. a swipe touch gesture, or the movement ofa cursor) is determined from the first locus to the second locus. Theicon 300 may, however, be used to provide visual feedback to the userduring the gesture. Visual feedback may also/alternatively be providedby drawing a visual trail on the display 210, illustrating the path ofthe translation input as it is moved.

In response to the start of the translation input, other visualindications may, in some examples, be made to the user. For example,user interface elements on the display 210 may move, change colour, orotherwise be emphasized to the user. A visual representation of thesecond locus may be emphasized, for example by changing its coloursand/or by moving it into a convenient position to be designated as thetermination point of the translation input. In examples where more thanone second locus are provided, the second loci may be moved into anarrangement such as a pie menu for ready access by the user making thetranslation input.

In the example of FIG. 3a-c , the second locus corresponded to apredetermined area of the screen that did not necessarily have anyassociated function. FIGS. 4a-d illustrate another example where thesecond locus has a particular function associated with it.

FIG. 4a shows the device 200 displaying an item 420 which is an alertrelating to a received e-mail message. In practice, such alert mayrelate to other events, such as the receipt of an SMS message, a missedcall, a calendar event, and so on. Although the example of an alert isused in FIG. 4a-4d , the item may in fact be another displayed element,such as a shortcut to an application or function on the device (e.g. ashortcut to a camera application or a particular website). Regardless ofwhether it is an alert, a shortcut, or something else entirely, the itemhas associated with it a function that can be performed by the device.The particular function will be dependent upon the particular item, butfor example a shortcut to a website may be associated with the functionof opening a browser window and loading that website, and a receivedmessage alert may be associated with the function of opening a messagingclient and displaying that message.

FIGS. 4b and 4c illustrate the dragging of the lock icon 300 away fromthe first locus 310 and towards the item 420. The second locus isdefined relative to the location of the second item, in this examplesuch that the two share the same position and size (although otherarrangements are possible).

When it is determined that the end point of the drag is within thesecond locus, the device 200 responds by switching to its unlocked stateand performing the function that is associated with the second locus. Inthe example of FIGS. 4a-4d the associated function is launching thee-mail client and opening the newly received message, and FIG. 4dillustrates this.

Although only one item 420 with an associated function is illustrated inFIGS. 4a-d , more than one item may be present and the items may havedifferent associated inputs. For example, where a message alert and acamera application shortcut are displayed, dragging the icon to themessage alert may unlock the device 200 and cause the function oflaunching the messaging client and opening the message to be performed,while dragging the icon to the camera application shortcut may cause thedevice 200 to be unlocked and the function of launching the cameraapplication to be performed. Dragging the icon over two or more items ina single translation input may in some example embodiments cause thedevice 200 to be unlocked and the functions associated with each ofthose items to be performed.

In some example embodiments, the device 200 is returned to its lockedstate as soon as the function associated with the item has beencompleted. In some other example embodiments, the function is associatedwith a particular application and the device 200 is returned to itslocked state once the associated application has been closed (e.g. inthe example where the item is a message alert associated with thefunction of launching a messaging client and opening a message, thedevice 200 may be returned to its locked state once the messaging clientis closed). In some other example embodiments, switching the device toan unlocked state comprises switching the device into a state in whichonly certain functions are unlocked—for example, in FIG. 4d the e-mailapplication window relating to the new message may be unlocked for userinput, but other functions (e.g. the hardware keys 220 of the device)may remain locked.

In some examples, a plurality of second loci may be provided, withdifferent second loci associated with different functions. For example,FIG. 5 illustrates a translation input can be started at a first locus500 corresponding to an unlock icon, and end at one of a plurality ofsecond loci 520, 530, 540, 560, different ones of the second loci beingassociated with different functions. In the example of FIG. 5, thesecond loci are associated with launching a phone application, launchingan SMS client, launching an e-mail client, and launching a musicapplication, although other suitable functions may be associated withthe loci.

As described in relation to FIGS. 3a-3c , it is not necessarily the casethat the translation input in FIGS. 4a-4d is a drag input on an icon, orthat the user actively ends the input within the second locus. Instead,other types of translation input may be used in other examples.

FIGS. 6a-c illustrate an example where rather than the user entering atranslation input that ends at a locus associated with a particularfunction (e.g. launching an e-mail application), it is the locus of thestart of the translation input that is associated with the function.

For example, FIG. 6a illustrates a device 200 in a locked state, onwhose display 210 is displayed an e-mail notification 610 at a firstlocus 600 and an unlock area at a second locus 610. The e-mailnotification 600 is displayed in response to the reception of a newe-mail message.

In FIG. 6b a translation input has been received from the user between alocation within the first locus 600, corresponding to the originalposition of the e-mail notification 610, and a location within thesecond locus (the unlock area) 620. In response to this input thenotification 610 has been translated to the location within the secondlocus 620, providing visual feedback to the user.

In FIG. 6c , the user has terminated the translation input at thelocation within the second locus 620, and in response the device hasbeen switched to its unlocked state, the e-mail client 630 opened, andthe new message represented by to the notification 610 has beenautomatically opened. This is the functionality that was associated withthe first locus 610, but only performed in response to the translationinput from the first locus 610 to the second locus 620.

FIG. 6a-c is a specific example of an implementation of a more generalidea. As described above with respect to other examples, it is notnecessary that a notification or other representation be displayed atthe first locus 610, or that the unlock area 620 is displayed at thesecond locus. Similarly, the function associated with the first locusneed not be to open an e-mail message, if could be any other functionrelating to a received message and/or notification, or any otherfunction that the device 200 can perform.

In some example embodiments, a plurality of first loci may be provided,each associated with a different function in an analogue of FIG. 5.

In FIGS. 3a-3c, and 4a-4d , 5, and 6 a-c the device was switched betweenits locked and unlocked states in response to a translation input thatstarted and ended within predefined loci; however, there are other waysin which a translation input can be recognised as a command to unlockthe device. FIGS. 7a-c illustrates some of these different ways.

FIG. 7a illustrates a continuous translation input between a start point710 and an end point 730. The total length 730 along the path of theinput is determined and the device 200 is unlocked only if the totallength is greater than a threshold amount. The threshold amount may bepredetermined, e.g. by the user or the device manufacturer, or it may bedetermined dynamically, for example as a function of the length of timethat has passed since the device was last in its unlocked state. Forexample, it may be that a greater length of input is required to unlockthe device when it has not locked for a long time (e.g. an hour),whereas a shorted length may be required when the device was unlockedrecently (e.g. 10 seconds ago).

In FIG. 7a , it was the total length 730 of the translation input thatwas determined and compared to a threshold value—this total length beingthe full path of the input. FIG. 7b shows an example where thestraight-line distance 740 between the start and end points 710, 720 ismeasured and compared to a threshold instead of the total length 730.

In some examples, the end point 720 is defined as the location at whichthe user actively terminates the translation operation (e.g. ceases totouch the display 210 in the example of a touch drag operation), but inother examples the end point 720 may be a current end point of anongoing translation input. For example, as the translation input isentered, the distance of the current end point may extend briefly beyondthe threshold value from the start point, but then return within itbefore the translation input terminates. In this example where thedistance between the start and current end points is used, the device200 will switch to its unlocked state when the threshold value isexceeded. However, in the example where the end point 720 is taken to bethe location at which the translation input is terminated, the device200 will remain in the locked state because the distance between thestart point 710 and this end point 720 is less than the threshold value.

FIG. 7c illustrates yet another example, in which it is the maximumdeviation 740 of a translation input from a straight line path betweenits start point 710 and end point 720 that is measured. Again, the endpoint that defines the path may be the current end point, or the endpoint at which the user terminates the translation input.

In one example, the device 200 is unlocked only if the maximum deviation740 is less than a threshold value. In another example, the device 200is unlocked only if the maximum deviation is greater than a thresholdvalue. In other examples, the device 200 is unlocked only if the maximumdeviation 740 lies within a particular range of values.

It is possible to measure other characteristics of a translation inputin order to determine whether or not the device 200 should be unlocked.Suitable characteristics may include, but are not limited to: thepressure applied to a touch sensitive surface (e.g. a touchscreen)during the translation input; the distance of an object from a touchsensitive surface during the translation input; and the minimum,average, or maximum speeds of the translation input. The device may beunlocked if a selected one or more characteristic is measured to be lessthan a threshold value, greater than a threshold value, or within acontinuous or discontinuous range of values. Similarly the device may beunlocked if a function of one or more measurements of one or morecharacteristics is determined to be less than a threshold value, greaterthan a threshold value, or within a continuous or discontinuous range ofvalues. Suitable functions may include mean and other averagingfunctions.

In some examples, the device 200 may only switch to its unlocked statein the event that more than one of the above conditions are satisfied.For example, it may be required that a translation input has a totalpath length 730 greater than a first threshold value, in combinationwith a maximum deviation of less than a second threshold value.

FIGS. 8a-d illustrate an example of the device 200 in which the firstlocus comprises the entire display 210, or at least a substantially allof the display 210 (e.g. there may be a small status bar or the likethat is not within the first locus). A lock screen 810 is displayed onthe display, the lock screen 810 indicating to the user that the device200 is in a locked state. In some further examples, the lock screen 810may include portions of the display that are deactivated or otherwiseplaced in a low-power state (e.g. not backlit) in order to conservepower whilst the device 200 is in the locked state.

In FIG. 8b the user has begun a translation input at a location 820within the first locus (i.e. substantially anywhere on the display 210).

In FIG. 8c the user has continued the translation input to location 840,along path 840. As the input moves along the path 840, at least aportion of the lock screen 810 has been translated along the path,revealing a content screen 840 beneath it. Although the content screenmay contain content with which the user can interact (e.g. virtualbuttons and other user interface components), such interaction may bedisabled until such time as the device 200 is switched to its unlockedstate.

When the translation input is terminated, a decision is made as based onthe input as to whether or not the device 200 should be switched fromits locked state into an unlocked state. The decision may be based, forexample, on the location of the end of the translation input (e.g. is itwithin a second locus located at a periphery of the display) and/or adetermination that the path 840 exceeds a threshold length.

In the event that the device 200 is to be switched to its unlockedstate, any remaining visible portion of the lock screen 810 is removedfrom the display 210, as shown in FIG. 8d . User interaction with thecontent of the content screen 840 may be enabled.

Conversely, if the decision is made to maintain the device 200 in itslocked state, the lock screen 810 may be returned to its originallocation covering the content screen 840, as shown in FIG. 8a , and thedevice 200 is not switched to its unlocked state.

Example embodiments have been described in which a device is switched,based on the characteristics of a translation input, between locked andunlocked states. However, devices may be switched between other statesbased upon the characteristics of a translation input.

FIGS. 9a-c illustrate an example in which the characteristics of atranslation input determine the switching of a device 200 between afirst and second state. In the first state, shown by FIG. 9a , an e-mailapplication is in focus, an e-mail display 910 associated with thee-mail application filling substantially all of the area of the device'sdisplay 210. Although an e-mail application is illustrated, other typesof application or any other software component presenting a userinterface or other content on the display 210 may be selected.Similarly, the display of the application or other component fills all,substantially all, or only part of the device's display area.

In FIG. 9b , the user has initiated a translation input at location 920,for example by touching the display 200 at this location. Thetranslation input is then continued to location 930, along path 940, forexample by dragging the finger across the display to location 930.

As the translation input is extended along path 940, the e-mail display910 may be translated along the same path. Such a translation is shownin FIG. 9c . As the e-mail display 910 is translated, it reveals an idlescreen display 950 beneath it.

An idle screen, sometimes known as a “home screen” is a display thatprovides a root navigation level within a device's user interface. Itmay, for example, be displayed when no applications are running, or whenno applications are currently in focus. Because of the root nature ofthe home screen, it is commonly used to display the current time,upcoming calendar events, event notifications, and other informationrelating to the device and/or its content. An idle screen, or a homescreen, may also be referred to by the more general term “rootnavigation display”. A root navigation display is a display that lies atthe root of a navigation session—in other words, other displays may beclosed/hidden to work backwards to the root navigation display, butthere is no further scope to navigate backwards from the root navigationdisplay. The root navigation display may be thought of as residing atthe most fundamental level in a tree structure of potential displays.

Although an idle screen has been selected for the purposes ofillustration, other function may be selected in practice. For example,the idle screen may be replaced by a task manager, a main menu (i.e. amenu from which applications may be launched), or any other suitabledisplay.

Based on the characteristics of the translation input, it is determinedwhether the device is to be switched from its first state (in which thee-mail application is in focus) into a second state. In the secondstate, the idle screen (or other suitable function) is in focus, and thee-mail application is out of focus and in some example embodiments isterminated. Suitable characteristics are described above, in relation tothe other examples.

If it is determined that the device 200 is not to be switched from thefirst state into the second state, the e-mail display 910 is returned tocover the idle screen display 1010 (as shown in FIG. 9a ) and the e-mailapplication remains in focus.

However, if it is determined that the device is to be switched from thefirst state into the second state, then any remaining visible portion ofthe e-mail display 1010 is removed from the display 210, and the idlescreen display 950 replaces it. Any components in the idle screendisplay 950 that are capable of user interaction may be enabled inresponse to the switch to the second state. This is illustrated in FIG.9 c.

The example idle screen display 950 of FIG. 9c includes user-selectablerepresentations 960, 970 of applications that are running on the devicebut are not currently in focus. These include a representation 970 ofthe e-mail application that was in focus in the first state. A suitablerepresentation may be based upon a screenshot of the e-mail display 910immediately prior to its loss of focus, or a live representation of thee-mail display 910 (i.e. a representation that continues to be updatedas the e-mail display 010 would be, were it in focus).

In an example embodiment a selectable representation is based oninformation other than a screenshot of a represented application. Forexample, there may be a subset of information associated with theapplication that may allow a user to recognize the application. Forexample, a selectable representation of an instant message conversationmay be based on information associated with a participant of theconversation, such as a name, and image, and/or the like, arepresentation of the last message of the conversation, and/or the like.In such an example, information associated with the instant messageconversation may be omitted from the selectable representation, such asprevious messages, controls, and/or the like. In another example, aselectable representation of a telephony application may be based oninformation associated with a participant in a call, such as an image,name, and/or the like, a call duration indicator, and/or the like. Insuch an example, information associated with the telephony applicationmay be omitted from the selectable representation, such as controls,keypad indications, and/or the like. Without limiting the scope of theclaims in any way, at least one possible technical advantage of basingthe selectable representation on a subset of application information isreducing the amount of information comprised in a selectablerepresentation.

In an example embodiment, the device generates the selectablerepresentation based on a subset of information so that at least part ofthe information associated with the represented application is omittedfrom the selectable representation. The device may generate theselectable representation based on a determination of which subset ofinformation may allow a user to recognise the application. Thedetermination of the subset of information may be performed by thedevice based on at least one characteristic of the application. Forexample, the device may determine the subset of information based, atleast in part, on a type associated with the application. For example,the device may determine that the subset of information for a selectablerepresentation of a messaging application should include participantinformation and information associated with the most recent message. Inanother example, the subset of information may be pre-determined. Insuch an example, the subset of information may be determined by asetting, by programming, by a table, and/or the like.

In response to a user selection of the representation 1070 of the e-mailapplication, the focus may be restored to the e-mail application byswitching the device 200 from the second state back to the first state.

In example embodiments where switching from the first to second stateterminates the application in focus in the first state, therepresentations 960, 970 in the idle screen display 950 may include arepresentation of the terminated application. Selecting therepresentation of the terminated application in such cases may cause theapplication to be re-launched. In some further example embodiments, theapplication may be re-launched with the same context that it had when itwas terminated, effectively returning the device 200 back to its firststate.

In some examples performing a translation input when the device isalready in the second state may cause the device to re-enter the firststate, or to switch to a different state entirely.

In further examples, different characteristics of the translation inputmay cause the device to be switched into different states in whichanother display is presented on the display. The other display mayrelate to a settings menu, an alternative idle screen, a main menu, adifferent root navigation display, a messaging or other application, orany other suitable function of the device. For example, a translationinput in a first direction may cause a display relating to a secondstate to be uncovered and the device to be switched to the second state,whilst a translation input in a second direction causes a displayrelating to a third state to be uncovered and the device switched tothat third state. In some examples, a translation input in a particulardirection may cause a predetermined application to be launched, orfunction to be performed. For example, a drag gesture towards the top ofthe display may cause the device to launch an e-mail application,whereas a drag towards the right hand side of the display may cause thedevice to be placed in a silent mode.

If the device is already displaying a root navigation display (forexample an idle or home screen) when the translation input is received,the device may be switched to a state that is associated with adifferent root navigation display. This switching may be circular sothat if the translation input is repeated a sufficient number of timesthen the state of the device eventually returns to the originallydisplayed root navigation display. Such functionality may findapplication in examples where the device is configured to present morethan one homescreen, amongst others examples.

In examples where the device is configured to present multiple rootnavigation displays and the translation input has the effect ofswitching the device from an application to one of these root navigationdisplays, the choice of root navigation display (and therefore of thesecond state) may be determined to be the root navigation state fromwhich the application was directly launched (e.g. by selecting an optionassociated with the application in the root navigation display). Wherethe application has not been directly launched from a root navigationdisplay but instead from another application (e.g. where a web browserhas been launched by selecting a hyperlink embedded in a messagedisplayed by an e-mail application) then the second state may bedetermined to be the state in which that other application is running,or the root navigation display from which the other application wasitself launched (either directly, or via a chain of other applications).

Similarly, where multiple root navigation displays are available,switching from a state in which an application is running need notnecessarily involve switching to a the root navigation display fromwhich that application was launched. Instead, the switch may be to adifferent root navigation display (e.g. the most recent root navigationdisplay to be displayed by the device).

FIG. 10 illustrates an example method 1000 for implementingfunctionality described above. On beginning 1010 the method starts withthe reception 1020 of a translation input, for example a drag operationon a touch screen. The method then determines 1030 that a at least onecharacteristic of the translation input, for example the length of theinput or the location of its start and end points, meets at least onepredefined criterion, and in response to that determination a computingdevice is switched 1040 from a locked state into an unlocked state. Themethod then ends 1050.

FIG. 11 illustrates another example method 1100 for implementingfunctionality described above. On beginning 1110, the method starts withthe reception 1120 of a translation input. It is then determined 1130whether at least one characteristic of the translation input meets afirst set of one or more criteria. If the at least one characteristic isdetermined to meet the first set of criteria, a computing device isswitched 1240 from a first state into a second state. In the first statean application is in focus and a first display relating to theapplication is displayed, whereas in the second state the application isnot in focus and a second display is displayed. The method then ends1150.

Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application ofthe claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of theexample embodiments disclosed herein is that an improved user experienceis provided, in which fewer user input actions are required to completeoperations.

Example embodiments of the present invention may be implemented insoftware, hardware, application logic or a combination of software,hardware and application logic. The software, application logic and/orhardware may reside on a removable memory, within internal memory or ona communication server. In an example embodiment, the application logic,software or an instruction set is maintained on any one of variousconventional computer-readable media. In the context of this document, a“computer-readable medium” may be any media or means that can contain,store, communicate, propagate or transport the instructions for use byor in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer, with examples of a computer described anddepicted in FIG. 1. A computer-readable medium may comprise acomputer-readable storage medium that may be any media or means that cancontain or store the instructions for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer.

In some example embodiments, the invention may be implemented as anapparatus or device, for example a mobile communication device (e.g. amobile telephone), a PDA, a computer or other computing device, or avideo game console.

If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be performed ina different order and/or concurrently with each other. Furthermore, ifdesired, one or more of the above-described functions may be optional ormay be combined.

Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independentclaims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations offeatures from the described example embodiments and/or the dependentclaims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely thecombinations explicitly set out in the claims.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes exampleembodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed ina limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modificationswhich may be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computing device, comprising: a touch sensitivedisplay; at least one processor; and memory including computer programcode configured to, working with the at least one processor, cause thecomputing device to: unlock the computing device in response to userinput; cause the computing device to enter a first unlocked state bylaunching a first application program, the launched first applicationprogram being in focus and a first display screen of the applicationprogram substantially filling the touch sensitive display; cause, as auser provides a translation input across the touch sensitive displaythat is initiated while the first application program is in focus,removal of the first display screen of the first application programfrom the touch sensitive display with the translation input whichreveals a home screen comprising a plurality of user selectablerepresentations of application programs including a user selectablerepresentation of the first application program which is based at leastin part on a screenshot of the first display screen prior to the userproviding the translation input; and switch the computing device, inresponse to determining that the translation input meets at least onecriterion, from the first unlocked state to a second unlocked state inwhich the home screen is in focus and substantially fills the touchsensitive display by removing any remaining visible portion of the firstdisplay screen of the first application program from the touch sensitivedisplay.
 2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein any components inthe home screen that are capable of user interaction are enabled inresponse to the computing device switching to the second unlocked state.3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein in the second unlocked statein which the home screen substantially fills the touch sensitivedisplay, no application programs are in focus on the touch sensitivedisplay.
 4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computerprogram code configured to, working with the at least one processor,cause the computing device to: respond to user selection of the userselectable representation of the first application program by switchingback to the first unlocked state and restoring focus to the firstapplication program.
 5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein thefirst application program has a context when the computing device is inthe first unlocked state and when the computing device switches back tothe first unlocked state, following selection of the user selectablerepresentation of the first application program, the first applicationprogram has the same context.
 6. The computing device of claim 1,wherein prior to initiation of the translation input no portion of thehome screen is visible on the touch sensitive display.
 7. The computingdevice of claim 1, wherein the computer program code is configured to,working with the at least one processor, cause the computing device to:terminate the first application program in response to determining thatthe translation input meets the at least one criterion.
 8. The computingdevice of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to presentmultiple different home screens and the home screen that is displayedwhen the computing device switches from the first unlocked state to thesecond unlocked state is a home screen, from the multiple different homescreens, from which the first application program was launched.
 9. Acomputing device, comprising: a touch sensitive display; at least oneprocessor; and memory including computer program code configured to,working with the at least one processor, cause the computing device to:unlock the computing device in response to user input; cause thecomputing device to enter a first unlocked state by launching anapplication program, the launched application program having a displayscreen substantially filling the touch sensitive display; cause, as auser provides a translation input across the touch sensitive displaythat is initiated while the application program substantially fills thetouch sensitive display, removal of the application program from thetouch sensitive display with the translation input which reveals a homescreen comprising a plurality of user selectable representations ofapplication programs including a user selectable representation of theapplication program which is based at least in part on a screenshot ofthe display screen prior to the user providing the translation input;and switch the computing device, in response to determining that thetranslation input meets at least one criterion, from the first unlockedstate to a second unlocked state in which the home screen substantiallyfills the touch sensitive display.
 10. The computing device of claim 9,wherein prior to initiation of the translation input no portion of thehome screen is visible on the touch sensitive display.
 11. The computingdevice of claim 9, wherein any components in the home screen that arecapable of user interaction are enabled in response to the computingdevice switching to the second unlocked state.
 12. The computing deviceof claim 9, wherein the computer program code configured to, workingwith the at least one processor, cause the computing device to: respondto user selection of the user selectable representation of theapplication program by switching back to the first unlocked state whichcauses the application program to substantially fill the touch sensitivedisplay.
 13. A computing device, comprising: a touch sensitive display;at least one processor; and memory including computer program codeconfigured to, working with the at least one processor, cause thecomputing device to: cause the computing device to enter a first stateby launching a first application program, wherein in the first state thefirst application program is in focus and a first display screenrelating to the first application program is displayed on the touchsensitive display that substantially fills the touch sensitive display;and switch the computing device, in response to determining that atranslation input meets at least one criterion, from the first state toa second state, wherein the first application program loses focus whenthe computing device switches from first state to the second state and,in the second state a second display screen is displayed that includes aplurality of user selectable representations of application programscomprising a user selectable representation of the first applicationprogram which is based, at least in part, on a screenshot of the firstdisplay screen prior to the loss of focus of the first applicationprogram.
 14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the computerprogram code configured to, working with the at least one processor,cause the computing device to: respond to user selection of the userselectable representation of the first application program by switchingback to the first state and restoring focus to the first applicationprogram.
 15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the firstapplication program has a context when the computing device is in thefirst state and when the computing device switches back to the firststate, following selection of the user selectable representation of thefirst application program, the first application program has the samecontext.
 16. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the seconddisplay screen is provided by a task manager.
 17. The computing deviceof claim 13, wherein any components in the second display screen thatare capable of user interaction are enabled in response to the computingdevice switching to the second state.
 18. The computing device of claim13, wherein in the second state, no application programs are in focus onthe touch sensitive display.